When you search for something on Google, the top results aren’t there by accident. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to make that happen — and that’s what SEO is all about.

Now, who makes sure that work is done the right way? That’s the job of an SEO Manager.

An SEO Manager helps a website show up on search engines like Google. They make sure the right keywords are used, the pages are easy to load, and the site stays updated with the latest Google changes. If something breaks or rankings drop, they’re the ones who fix it.

Whether you’re considering becoming one or simply interested in the job, this guide will take you through what an SEO Manager actually does, what skills are required, and how this job fits into the larger scheme of online success.

What Is an SEO Manager?

An SEO Manager is someone who helps a website get found on Google.

He works behind the scenes to bring more people to a website by using the right keywords, improving the content, fixing errors, and making sure everything runs smoothly. His main job is to grow traffic in a clean and steady way.

If something goes wrong and traffic drops, the SEO Manager finds out what happened and tries to fix it. If things are going well, they find ways to do even better.

In short, an SEO Manager helps websites rank higher, get more clicks, and stay ahead of competitors. It’s a mix of planning, testing, and improving — all to make sure the site keeps getting better results.

What Does an SEO Manager Do?

This section breaks down the day-to-day tasks of an SEO Manager. If you’re thinking about hiring one — or becoming one — you’ll get a clear picture of what this role actually involves.

1. Finds the Right Keywords

An SEO Manager doesn’t just pick keywords from a tool and move on.

They try to understand what real people are actually looking for — not just the words they type, but what they really mean. It’s not about getting the most clicks, it’s about finding words that match what users want and what the business offers.

For example, instead of going after “best laptop,” they might target:

• “Best laptop for Zoom calls”
• “Laptop with a strong battery for remote work”

These types of keywords bring more serious visitors — the ones who are likely to take action.

They also check what people search on your site, what customers ask sales teams, or what competitors missed in their blogs. That’s where real opportunities lie.

A good SEO Manager thinks like a human, not like a robot. They look for words that solve real problems, not just ones that bring traffic.

2. Optimizes Website Pages for SEO

An SEO Manager makes sure every page on your site is easy to find, read, and understand — both for Google and your visitors.

They fix the page titles, write clear meta descriptions, and place the right keywords where they make sense — like in the headings, first few lines, and image names.

They also check things like:

• Is the page too slow to load?
• Does it work properly on mobile?
• Is the content useful and clear?

Even small things like removing extra pop-ups or fixing messy links can help a lot.

The goal is simple: make the page useful for people and easy for search engines to understand. That’s how you rank better without overdoing anything.

3. Builds Backlinks and Improves Off-Page SEO

An SEO Manager also works outside the website. Their goal is to get links from other websites that point to yours — these are called backlinks.

Backlinks help Google trust your site more. But not all links are helpful. The SEO Manager finds quality websites in your field and tries to get links from them.

They might:

• Ask for a guest post spot on a blog
• Suggest adding your site to a useful resources list
• Fix broken links on other websites and offer your content instead
• Reach out to business partners or local directories

This whole process is called off-page SEO — it’s about building your site’s reputation across the web.

A good SEO Manager focuses on real connections, not quick hacks. Real links from trusted websites can improve your rankings and bring in better traffic.

4. Fixes Technical SEO Issues

Some SEO problems hide in the backend of your website. You might not see them, but Google does—and they can pull your rankings down.

An SEO manager’s job is to catch and fix these.

They usually look for things like:

• Broken links or 404 errors
• Slow-loading pages
• Mobile usability issues
• Missing or outdated sitemaps
• Pages that are blocked from Google

They use tools like Google Search Console or Screaming Frog to scan and spot issues.

Fixing these errors helps search engines crawl your site easily and improves your chances of ranking higher. Without these fixes, even the best content might get ignored.

5. Tracks SEO Progress and Reports Results

An SEO manager doesn’t just do the work—they also check if it’s working.

They look at simple but important things like:

• How many people are visiting the site from Google
• Which keywords are getting clicks
• What pages are moving up or down in search results
• How many new backlinks have come in
• Which blogs or pages are doing well (and which ones need help)

To check all this, they use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console.

Then they put the main points into a short, clear report. This helps the rest of the team or the client understand what’s working and what should be fixed next.

Tracking saves time. It stops you from guessing and helps you make smarter decisions for better results.

6. Works with Content and Marketing Teams

An SEO manager doesn’t do it all by himself. He collaborates with writers, designers, and marketers to ensure the website does well on search engines.

They assist authors in selecting the most appropriate topics, employing more effective keywords, and writing headlines people wish to click.
They also share tips with the marketing team so that SEO and promotions go hand in hand, like using the same keywords in ads or email campaigns.

When everyone is on the same page, content ranks better, gets more traffic, and speaks to the right audience. The SEO manager simply makes sure all parts of the team are moving in the same direction.

7. Uses SEO Tools Like Ahrefs, Semrush, and GSC

An SEO manager can’t do the job without using some smart tools. These tools help track what’s working, what’s not, and where the site can improve.

• Ahrefs and Semrush show which keywords your site ranks for, which pages get backlinks, and how your competitors are performing.
• Google Search Console (GSC) helps you see how your site is doing directly on Google—what keywords bring traffic, if any pages are getting errors, and how often your pages show up in search results.

These tools don’t just give data—they help the SEO manager make better decisions. Whether it’s spotting a broken page, finding new keyword ideas, or checking who linked to your latest blog, these tools make the work faster and smarter.

8. Keeps Up with Google Algorithm Updates

Google keeps changing how it ranks websites. Sometimes, even a small update can impact your traffic overnight. That’s why an SEO manager must stay alert and informed.

They regularly follow trusted SEO news sites, join communities, or read official updates from Google. When a new algorithm rolls out, they check if the site’s traffic or rankings were affected, and why.

More importantly, they don’t just panic or blindly follow trends. They study what’s changed, test small tweaks, and fix what matters—like content quality, page speed, or backlink profile.

Staying updated isn’t about chasing every new thing. It’s about understanding what Google is looking for—and keeping the site in good shape without taking shortcuts.

9. Watches Competitors and Adjusts Strategy

An SEO manager keeps an eye on what similar websites are doing. This isn’t to copy them — it’s to learn.

They check:

• What keywords are others ranking for
• Where their backlinks are coming from
• What kind of content gets traffic
• What new updates or pages have they added

If a competitor suddenly jumps up in rankings, the SEO manager digs in to see why. Maybe they added a faster page, wrote better content, or got links from a high-authority site.

This helps shape your own plan — maybe you spot a new keyword worth targeting or find blogs you could reach out to for backlinks.

It’s like looking at your neighbor’s garden to get ideas for your own. You don’t need to copy their flowers, but knowing what’s growing well can guide your next steps.

10. Guides and Trains Other Team Members

An SEO manager helps the team do better, not just by leading, but by teaching.

SEO Managers help writers understand how to use keywords the right way. They explain to developers how small changes on the website can boost rankings. They show new team members how to use tools like Google Search Console or Ahrefs.

Many times, they also set up checklists or simple steps for the team to follow. This helps avoid mistakes and keeps everyone on the same page.

When the whole team understands the basics of SEO, things move faster, and results get better. That’s why a good SEO manager is also a good coach.

How to Become an SEO Manager?

This section walks you through the real steps to build your skills, gain experience, and grow into the role of an SEO manager, starting from zero.

1. Learn SEO Basics First

Before you aim to become an SEO manager, first get the basics right. Not just the bookish stuff—really understand how SEO works on real websites.

Start with these three parts:

• On-page SEO – This means things like fixing your page titles, headings, and URLs.
• Off-page SEO – This is mainly about getting links from other websites to yours.
• Technical SEO – This makes sure Google can find and understand your site properly.

Here’s what no one usually tells you:
Reading blogs and watching videos is fine, but it’s not enough.

Go to Google. Search for something. Click on the top results. Look closely:

• How long is the content?
• What keywords are they using?
• How quickly does the page load?
• Who is linking to that page?

This is how you train your eye. This is how real SEO learning begins, not by memorizing definitions, but by noticing what actually works.

You don’t need to master fancy tools on day one.
Just build the habit of checking what makes one page rank better than the other.

This skill helps later, when you’re doing SEO audits, planning content, or working with writers and developers. It’s part of what shapes a smart SEO marketing manager.

A good SEO doesn’t blindly follow trends—they understand why something works.

So, if you’re serious about learning how to become an SEO manager, start with this: look, compare, and question what you see. That’s where your foundation starts.

2. Get Comfortable with SEO Tools

To grow in SEO, you need to know how to use the right tools—but don’t worry, you don’t need to learn everything at once.

Start with the free stuff:

• Google Search Console shows what keywords your site ranks for and if Google is facing any problems with your pages.
• Google Analytics helps you track where your visitors come from and what they do on your site.
• Ubersuggest or AnswerThePublic are great for quick keyword ideas.

Once you’ve got the basics, try out tools like Ahrefs or Semrush. These tools help you:

• Check what kind of backlinks you or your competitors are getting
• See which pages bring the most traffic
• Find SEO issues before they hurt your rankings

You don’t need to be an expert at these tools. Just learn how to pull out simple data—what’s working, what’s not, and what to fix. That’s enough to start.

As a future SEO marketing manager, knowing how to read this data is one of the most important SEO manager skills. It helps you make better decisions, give clear reports, and find new ways to grow a site’s traffic.

The tools are just helpers—your understanding is what makes the real difference.

3. Start a Blog or Website to Practice

If you really want to learn SEO, theory won’t take you far. You need to get your hands dirty—and the best way to do that is by starting your own blog or website.

Pick a topic you enjoy. It could be food, fitness, gadgets, or anything else. Then start writing and optimizing content for it.

Here’s what you’ll learn by doing it yourself:

• How to choose keywords and use them in your content
• How to set up basic on-page SEO—like title tags, meta descriptions, and internal links
• How to improve site speed and fix common technical issues
• How to get backlinks from other sites by doing outreach
• How SEO changes take time and what real progress looks like

Most SEO manager job descriptions expect you to know how websites work in the real world. Running your own blog gives you that experience. It also helps you build a small portfolio you can show when applying for SEO roles.

If you ever want to become an SEO marketing manager, having hands-on experience gives you an edge. You’ll understand what works—and what doesn’t—because you’ve done it, not just read about it.

Even if no one reads your blog at first, don’t stop. Every mistake you make now will help you avoid bigger mistakes when you’re managing real client websites.

4. Take SEO Courses (Free or Paid)

If you’re serious about becoming an SEO manager, you can’t rely on guesswork. Once you’ve done some hands-on practice, learning from structured SEO courses is the next smart move.

There are both free and paid options. And you don’t need to pick the fanciest or longest one—just start with something that fits your current level.

✅ Good free options to begin with:

• Google’s SEO Starter Guide
• Moz Beginner’s Guide
• HubSpot’s SEO course

✅ Once you’re comfortable, try these:

• Semrush Academy
• Ahrefs Blogging for Business
• Paid SEO bootcamps on platforms like Udemy or Coursera

Watching courses like a YouTube binge won’t help. You’ve got to test what you learn on your own blog, website, or any small project.

Every time you apply what a course teaches, you get a little closer to understanding how SEO works in real life. That’s what hiring managers look for in someone applying for an SEO manager job. They don’t just want someone who’s “completed a course.” They want someone who knows what to do with that knowledge.

So yes, take courses. But treat them like a map, not a destination. The real learning starts when you try things out for yourself.

5. Build a Portfolio with Real Results

Nobody hires you for knowing SEO terms—they hire you for what you’ve actually done.

So instead of waiting for the perfect client or job, start with what you’ve got. Use your own blog. Help a friend’s business. Offer to improve someone’s site for free. What matters is taking action and showing results.

Here’s what you should focus on:

• Pick keywords that real people are searching for
• Fix the content, titles, and structure of the site
• Do some outreach and get a few backlinks
• Track how traffic and rankings change over time

And don’t forget to document everything.
Take screenshots. Save your Google Search Console or analytics reports. Show exactly what you changed and what improved.

Because when a company asks, “Have you ranked a site before?”—you’ll have a clear answer backed with proof.

Try building SEO results for different types of sites, like blogs, local businesses, or online stores. It shows you’re flexible and ready for real-world SEO work.

This is how you earn trust. This is how you grow from a beginner to someone ready for an SEO manager role.

6. Work on Freelance or Internship Projects

Real growth in SEO happens when you deal with real websites. That’s why freelance and internship projects are worth your time, even in the early stages.

There are tons of small businesses, bloggers, and startups that want SEO help but don’t have big budgets. Offer to improve their content, fix their pages, or run a quick audit. In return, you get hands-on experience and real results you can add to your SEO manager portfolio.

This work teaches you what courses don’t: how to explain SEO to people who don’t get it, how to handle tricky websites, and how to solve messy problems. These lessons stick with you.

Skip crowded job boards sometimes. A simple, direct email to a local business owner can open more doors than you think.

Even if the pay is small or nothing at all, the experience is huge. And later, it’ll help you stand out for real SEO roles.

7. Stay Updated with Industry Trends

SEO doesn’t sit still. Google keeps changing how it ranks websites, and what worked a few months ago might not work now.

If you want to be good at SEO, you have to keep up. That doesn’t mean reading every update line by line, but you do need to know the big changes and what they mean in real life.

Here’s how you can stay in the loop without getting overwhelmed:

• Follow 2–3 good SEO blogs like Moz or Search Engine Roundtable.
• Join simple groups or forums where SEO people talk, like Reddit or LinkedIn.
• Sign up for 1–2 free newsletters that explain updates in simple words.
• Watch what’s ranking on Google. See how top pages change over time. That tells you more than most news articles.

Also, build a habit. Check in once a week for 15 minutes—just to stay fresh. And if you find something important, write it down. Maybe just a one-line note like, “Google’s giving more attention to page experience this month.” These small notes will help you build your own understanding over time.

Real growth as an SEO manager comes from knowing what’s changing and how it affects your work, not from memorizing every update.

8. Network with Other SEO Professionals

You don’t need to figure everything out on your own. A big part of growing in SEO is learning from people who are already doing it.

Follow SEO experts on LinkedIn, Twitter, or YouTube. Don’t just scroll—pay attention to what they say, how they think, and what they share. It gives you real-world ideas that aren’t always in blogs or courses.

Join SEO groups. There are tons of free ones on Facebook, Reddit, and Slack. These are places where people ask questions, share what’s working, and talk about tools and strategies. Jump in—even if you’re new. Most people are happy to help if you’re polite and honest about learning.

You can also send direct messages. If you liked someone’s blog or post, tell them. Ask one clear question. That’s how real conversations start.

Why this matters:

• You’ll learn faster from people who’ve been there
• You’ll find out about job leads and freelance gigs
• You’ll build real connections that can open doors later

You don’t need to sound smart—just be real, respectful, and curious. That’s enough to get someone’s attention.

The best SEOs often started the same way you’re starting now. A simple conversation could turn into your next big opportunity.

9. Apply for Junior SEO Roles First

The easiest way to break into the SEO industry is to start with junior-level roles. These positions don’t expect you to be an expert. They just want someone who understands the basics and is ready to work and learn.

If you’ve already built a blog, done a few freelance gigs, or taken on small SEO tasks for someone, that’s all you need to show. Companies don’t expect big results—they want proof that you can apply what you’ve learned.

Here’s what helps:

• Show your portfolio. Even one good case study matters.
• Share what tools you’ve used—like Ahrefs, Google Search Console, or Semrush.
• Keep your resume short and honest. Say what you’ve done, not just what you know.

Starting from a junior SEO role gives you hands-on experience with real websites. And once you do well, growing into an SEO manager role becomes much easier.

What Skills Does an SEO Manager Need?

If you wish to be a good SEO Manager, it’s not merely a question of being aware of keywords or tools. You require some actual, tangible skills that make you perform the job efficiently and collaborate with others effectively. Here are the most important ones:

• Planning Skills: You must know how to set SEO goals that make sense for the business. It’s about knowing what to do next, and how it helps traffic, leads, or sales.
• Comfort with Data: You’ll look at things like traffic, rankings, and bounce rates. So you need to read the numbers, understand what’s going on, and decide what to fix.
• Communication: You often have to explain SEO stuff to people who don’t know SEO, like clients or other team members. You should be able to explain things in a simple and clear way.
• Problem Solving: Sometimes traffic drops or rankings go down. You need to figure out why, fix the issue, and test new ideas if needed.
• Quick to Adjust: Google changes its rules all the time. So you need to keep up and quickly adjust your strategy if needed.
• Team Management: As a manager, you’ll guide writers, developers, and other SEO folks. That means assigning tasks, reviewing work, and helping the team stay on track.
• Creative Thinking: SEO is not just about following rules. You need ideas—like better blog topics, new link-building ways, or clever ways to beat the competition.

These are actual skills that make you develop in the SEO field. Whether you are looking for a job in an agency or to be a freelance SEO marketing manager, these skills will come in handy.

What Is the Salary and Career Growth Like?

If you want to become an SEO manager professionally, it helps to know how much you could earn in various countries. Below is a clear summary:

💼 Average SEO Manager Salaries by Country

Below are average SEO manager salaries in different countries:

1. United States

• Average Salary: Approximately $80,980 per year.
• Range: Typically between $49,739 and $131,841 annually, depending on experience and location. ​

2. United Kingdom

• Average Salary: Around £37,531 per year.
• Higher Salaries: In cities like London, salaries can be higher due to increased demand.

3. Australia

• Average Salary: Approximately AU$ 97,302 per year.
• Range: Salaries can vary based on experience and city, with higher pay in major urban areas.

4. France

• Average Salary: Around €50,000 per year.
• Range: Typically between €42,000 and €56,000, influenced by experience and location. 

📈 Factors Influencing SEO Manager Salaries

Several elements can affect how much an SEO manager earns:

• Experience: More years in the field often lead to higher pay.
• Location: Salaries tend to be higher in major cities due to the cost of living and demand.
• Company Size: Larger companies may offer better compensation packages.
• Industry: Certain sectors, like e-commerce or tech, might pay more.
• Skill Set: Proficiency in tools like Google Analytics, SEMrush, and content management systems can boost value.​Payscale+2Payscale+2Payscale+2

🧭Career Growth

Beginning as an SEO manager will provide opportunities for more senior positions like Head of SEO or Digital Marketing Director. With experience and a track record, experts will be able to anticipate greater responsibilities and greater pay.

In short, an SEO management career provides competitive pay and room for advancement, particularly for those who keep abreast with the changing digital trends and continuously enhance their skills.

Conclusion

An SEO Manager assists websites in expanding by attracting the appropriate traffic from search engines.

It’s not a tech job only — it’s solving problems, good decision-making, and keeping on top of what works online. You don’t have to learn everything on the first day. What you do need is the willingness to learn, experiment, and refine.

If you’re curious, detail-oriented, and like seeing real results from your work, this can be a great career path. And if you’re a business owner, hiring a skilled SEO Manager can truly change the game for your website.

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